Vietnam's seafood exports are expected to increase by 6.5 percent to US$6.5 billion this year as the country pushes to become one of the world's biggest seafood exporters, an industry group said.

The country exported $6.1 billion worth of seafood products last year, up 21 percent from 2010, the Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam reported, citing the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).

According to VASEP, both shrimp and tra fish exports hit a record last year, with the former reaching $2.4 billion. The group has set an export target of $2.5 billion for shrimp and between $1.8 billion and $2 billion for tra fish in 2012.

Vietnam aims to raise its seafood exports to $10 billion in 2020, making the country one of the four largest seafood exporters in the world, Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam said.